Casuals United

This article is about the protest group. For the amateur football club, see Casuals F.C..
Casuals United
Formation 2009
Type Anti-Islamism, anti-sharia
Website http://casualsunited.wordpress.com/

Casuals United also known as UK Casuals United[1] is a far-right British protest group.[2] The group is closely affiliated with the English Defence League.[3] The group describes itself as "Uniting the UK's Football Tribes against the Jihadists", and as "an alliance of British Football Casuals of various colours/races who have come together in order to create a massive, but peaceful protest group to force our Government to get their act in gear."[4]

Casuals United is organised around several British football teams' supporters. A leading organiser of Casuals United is Jeff Marsh of Barry, South Wales, a former member of the Soul Crew football hooligan firm.[5][6] He has said: "Hooligans from rival clubs are uniting on this and it is like a ready-made army ... We are protesting against the preachers of hate who are actively encouraging young Muslims in this country to take part in a jihad against Britain."

History

Casuals United were formed in reaction to protests by some Muslims in Luton, reportedly organised by the Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun,[7] against a parade of members of the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment returning from fighting in the war in Afghanistan in March 2009. Social networking sites such as Facebook have been used to coordinate protests in London, Luton and Birmingham.[3] In July 2009 the group picketed an Islamic roadshow in London.[3] Casuals United were one of four groups which were prevented from taking part in unofficial marches after Luton Borough Council applied for a banning order under the Public Order Act.[1][8] In August 2009 the group staged a protest in Birmingham.[9] More protests along with the English Defence League took place in Manchester, Leeds, Stoke, Bolton and Dudley.[10]

Leader of Casuals United, Jeff Marsh (Joe Butler), was jailed in August 2015 by Southwark Magistrates for a violent assault on a female anti-cuts protestor [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "'Overstretched' police advise Luton Town FC to reschedule match to avoid protest against Islamic extremists | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  2. ↑ Casuals United set for Bank Holiday return to Birmingham after violent riots, Sunday Mercury, 16 August 2009
  3. 1 2 3 Jenkins, Russell (2009-08-13). "Former football hooligans regroup in far-Right Casuals United". London: The Times. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  4. ↑ Website
  5. ↑ "‘Army’ made of former football hooligans". WalesOnline.co.uk. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  6. ↑ "A hot August?". Searchlight Magazine. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  7. ↑ Allan Urry (2009-09-22). "Is far-right extremism a threat?". BBC News (BBC).
  8. ↑ "Fears of further violence prompt march ban". Luton Today (Johnston Press Digital Publishing). 2009-08-21.
  9. ↑ "Casuals United set for Bank Holiday return to Birmingham after violent riots". Sunday Mercury. 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  10. ↑ "English Defence League Hooligans Unmasked". Hopenothate.org.uk. 2001-05-26. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  11. ↑ "Jeff Marsh Jailed". Edlnews.co.uk / date=2015-08-28. Retrieved 2015-08-31.

Further reading

External links

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